National Ballet of China (NBC), the only Chinese national
ballet company was founded in 1959. Pyotr Gusev, the celebrated Russian ballet
master laid a solid foundation of classical ballet for the company. Today, in
its repertoires, there are dozens of full length ballets, including Swan Lake,
Giselle, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, La Sylphide, Sylvia and others classical
ballets. In the past 20 years, especially since the 1990s, the company has
staged many contemporary works of ballet such as Serenade, Etude, Four Last
Songs, Rite of Spring and also modern dances.
NBC has successfully utilized ballet- an art form from the west- to depict the lives of the Chinese people. The Red Detachment of Women has become a classic is known around the world. Also Yellow River, Butterfly Lovers and Raise the Red Lantern are appreciated repertory. There outstanding ballets established a foundation for creating a ballet style uniquely Chinese.
Many prominent dance artists and choreographers, Dai Ailian, Li Chengxiang, Jiang Zuhui, Bai Shuxiang and others have made important contribution to the founding of the NBC. Today’s young dancers who are full of vigor and vitality, are maturing artistically. Under the industrious training and coaching of Ballet Mistress Feng Ying and Ballet Master Wang Caijun and other teachers, Zhu Yan, Zhang Jian, Wang Qimin, Meng Ningning, Li Jun, Yu Bo have won Gold, Silver and Bronze Medals at major international Ballet competitions in recent years. The new generation of outstanding dancers led by Sun Jie, have attracted the attention and praise of the international world of ballet.
NBC continues to strengthen international cultural exchange. It has toured
dozens of countries and regions around the world. Every year, the company
invites famous ballet masters and choreographers from abroad to instruct the
dancers and stage new ballets for the company. All these have broadened the
international influence of Chinese ballet and help the company strive for
perfection to become one of the major ballet companies of the world.